Boss Rush Banter: What’s Next for Fire Emblem?

Do you want to play chess? What if I told you the pieces had swords and magic and flying horses and they could marry each other?

Whether it’s playing on the GameBoy Advance or playing as Marth or Ike in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, we all know about the Fire Emblem franchise. This series of tactical RPGs follow rat-tag armies filled with a large cast of characters, with most games having their own self-contained lore and storylines. In 2019, the Nintendo Switch released Fire Emblem: Three Houses, one of the series’ best entries. The game got a DLC in 2020 and is still being talked about three years later.

With franchises like Metroid, Kirby, and even Advance Wars all getting new installments lately, it’s a little strange that we haven’t heard anything regarding a new Fire Emblem game. Rumors have been circulating since Fire Emblem: Three Houses first dropped in regards to what the next game could be, though neither Nintendo or Intelligent Systems haven’t announced anything. What could be next for the franchise?

The last game released before Three Houses was Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, a remake of 1992’s Fire Emblem Gaiden. The subtitle “Echoes” makes us think this game may have been the first in a long line of remakes that are coming down the road. Games like Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War and Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 followed Gaiden’s release in 1996 and 1999. Both titles have stories that are interconnected, which suggests that a remake could be a legitimate possibility.

Alternatively, we could just as likely get a brand new game with a new cast and mechanics. While Three Houses pulled heavily from games like Persona 5, having you run around the monastery, interacting with NPCs and party members, and training your teammates, I personally would love to see a return to form with a game similar to Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance for the GameCube. A game like this would have less focus on alternate routes and recruiting different characters, and focus more on story and challending level design.

Granted, Nintendo could also totally surprise us with a spin-off game like Fire Emblem Warriors or Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE. I’d personally love to see a fighting game similar to Soul Caliber featuring fan favorite Fire Emblem characters from across the franchise. There are countless directions Nintendo could take Fire Emblem if they’re willing.

What do you hope to see from Fire Emblem in the coming years? A remake of one of the classics, or do you just want a new story to sink your teeth into? Tell us below, or hop on over to the Boss Rush Discord (via clicking the link or scanning the QR code below) and let us know!